Birthright Citizenship

Republican leaders in Congress are now flirting with changing portions of the 14th Amendment—which grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof”—to deny citizenship to children born here to illegal immigrants.

The idea of modifying birthright citizenship has been around for decades but was previously relegated to the fringes of the immigration restriction movement. Yet in recent days, Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Jon Kyl have embraced the idea; Senate and House GOP leaders Mitch McConnell and John Boehner have proposed hearings.